When you work for a sports company as big as ESPN, you hold a lot of power in your hands. Articles, stories, and anything one writes has the ability to influence a wide audience. This means one must be extra cautious and responsible about how that power is utilized. This story is a great reminder of that.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently joined Ramone Shelburne, Brian Windhorst, and Malika Andrews to discuss Russell Westbrook’s trade to the Utah Jazz. Westbrook was part of a three-team trade that resulted in the Los Angeles Lakers bringing back D’Angelo Russell.
“It was the time to do it,” McMenamin started with saying. “Westbrook was not going to be a part of the team after the summer. Also, when his contract came off the book, the Lakers would have less money to deal with in free agency.
McMenamin continued on to say, “You get younger, you got shooting, switchable defenders, and as one source told me, ‘You remove a vampire out of locker room.’ Meaning, vampire sucks the blood out of locker room,”
That vampire comment sparked some negative feedback by way of Russell’s wife, Nina Westbrook, along with a few other prominent NBA players around the league. Nina took to Instagram, not only vehemently denying the comments made about her husband but also speaking about how it impacts her family life.
“On a personal note, I have school-aged children who have to listen to their peers repeat the nasty things that you guys say on television about their father,” Nina emphasized. “I guess I will prepare myself to explain to my 5-year-old that his dad is not actually a vampire and that major news outlets only say things like that to get attention.”
Players like Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell, and Carmelo Anthony joined in the conversation. As well as Quentin Richardson.
“Stop it,” Mitchell wrote.
“Whose the source?” asked Anthony.
“A source!? Knock it off and name that source, or don’t tell me what they said!!” added Quentin Richardson.
Flip the page the full vampire quote.